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| IJN Agano-class cruiser 6,547 tons (standard) 7,589 tons (loaded) 573' x 50' x 18' 5" 6 x 152mm T41 guns (3 x 2) 4 x 8cm Type 98 guns 2 x Tripple 25mm AA 2 x Twin 13mm MG 8 x torpedo tubes (4x2) 48 x mines 2 x floatplanes 1 x catapult  USN April 7, 1945 |
Ship History Built by Sasebo Navy Yard in Sasebo. Ordered in the 1939 fiscal year. Laid down November 11, 1941 as an Agano class light cruiser No. 134. On August 20, 1942 named Yahagi 矢矧 for the Yukikaze in Japan. Launched October 25, 1942, at the ceremony is Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu, the younger brother of Emperor Hirohito who represents the Imperial family. Completed and commissioned December 29, 1943 i the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Masatake Yoshimura. On January 1, 1944 departs Sasebo for exercises in Suo Nada area of the Inland Sea. On January 4, 1944 dry docked at Sasebo Navy Yard. Wartime History PARTIAL HISTORY On June 19, 1944 participates in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and rescues survivors of Shōkaku. PARTIAL HISTORY Operation Sho-1-Go (Victory) - Battle of Leyte Gulf On October 22, 1944 at 8:00am departs Brunei Bay as part of Operation Sho-1-Go (Victory) as part of the "Central Force" First Mobile Striking Force under the command of Vice-Admiral Takeo Kurita proceeds to the northeast bound for the Philippines and will engage in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The "Central Force" includes five battleships from BatDiv1: Musashi Yamato, Nagato, Kongō, and Haruna plus CruDivs 4 and CruDivs 5 ten heavy cruisers: Atago, Maya, Takao, Chōkai, Myōkō, Haguro, Kumano, Suzuya, Tone and Chikuma, plus two light cruisers: Noshiro and Yahagi: and DesRon 2 fifteen destroyer. During the night of October 22, 1944 the force passed Palawan Island and a U.S. submarine screen. On October 23, 1944 crosses the Mindoro Strait and Tablas Strait and on October 24, 1944 enters the Sibuyan Sea. Battle of the Sibuyan Sea On October 24, 1944 the force was crossing the the Sibyuan Sea until at 8:10am Musashi and her escorts were spotted by a search aircraft from USS Intrepid (CV-11). Efforts to jam their radio were unsuccessful and the force was reported starting the Battle of the Sibyuan Sea. PARTIAL HISTORY On April 6, 1945 at 3:20pm departs Mitajiri as part of the Surface Special Attack Force led by Battleship Yamato, with Yahagi escorted by destroyers Isokaze, Hamakaze and Yukikaze, DesDiv 21's Kasumi, Hatsushimo and Asashimo, DesDiv 41's Fuyuzuki and Suzutsuki. The force will steam via Bungo Channel to .Kyushu then enter the East China Sea. to Okinawa. At 6:30pm a Japanese aircraft spots an enemy submarine USS Theadfin (SS-410) and the force changes course and assumes an anti-submarine formation and the enemy submarine is spotted on the surface by Isokaze. At 9:00pm the force turns to the south. At 9:44pm tracking submarine USS Theadfin (SS-410) reports the presence of the force by radio but the report is intercepted by Yamato and they are aware the force has been detected. Later, USS Hackleback (SS-295) also spots the force but is unable to attack but follows in pursuit. Battle of the East China Sea On April 7, 1945 at 2:00am passes Miyazaki on eastern Kyushu and reaches the entrance of the Osumi Kaikyo Channel at the southern end of Kyūshū then enters the East China Sea. At 6:00am launches her E13A1 Jake to patrol and at the conclusion the floatplane lands on Kyūshū. At 6:30am the force is escorted by A6M5 Zeros from 203 Kokutai that patrol in small groups for three and a half hours. At 8:32am the attack force is spotted by F6F Hellcats from USS Essex (CV-9) and escorting Zeros fail to see them or intercept. At 10:14am spotted by two PBM Mariner flying boats and three minutes later turns to engage, jamming their radios and opens fire. A minute later visual contact is lost as the Mariners enter clouds. Meanwhile, Yamato learns U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 58 (TF-58) has been spotted 250 nautical miles away and launched carrier planes at the start of what will become known as the Battle of the East China Sea. At 11:07am Yamato radar spots planes approaching in two groups and the force increases speed to 25 knots and begins a turn and prepares for action. At 11:15am a delayed report is received that 150 enemy planes were spotted from Kikaigashima Island headed northwest. At the same moment, F6F Hellcats arrive over the Attack Force and begin circling as Yamato and Yahagi open fire and begin evasive maneuvers. Meanwhile, two groups of aircraft are approaching with overcast skies and a low cloud base that hampers efforts to visually tracking enemy planes or fire barrages. At 11:29 the force turns to 205° towards Okinawa. At 12:22pm her lookouts spot three Japanese ships heading for Amami Ōshima. During the Battle of the East China Sea, over a thousand U.S. Navy (USN) carrier aircraft strike in three waves. In the first wave, Yahagi was hit by a torpedo and goes dead in the water. Destroyer Isokaze attempts to assist, but Yahagi is subsequently hit by a dozen bombs including at least three 500 pound bomb hits by carrier planes from USS Yorktown (CV-10) plus six more torpedoes. At 2:05pm capsizes to starboard and sinks at roughly Lat 30°40'N, Long 128°03'E, other sources state 128° 08' E. Aboard, 445 crew including Captain Nobuichi Uchino are lost. On June 20, 1945 officially removed from the Navy List. Captain Uchino is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously. Rescue Afterwards, survivors including Rear Admiral Komura and Captain Hara are rescued by Hatsushimo and Yukikaze. References IJN YAHAGI: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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